When the Water Snake Losar draws to the end, several new changes have happened in Tibet.

Frugal，warm and civilized are three words to describe the Tibetan celebration of Spring Festival and Water Snake Losar.

The Potala Palace was decorated with red lanterns during the Water Snake Losar. [Photo/China Tibet Online] 

Eating up all the food become Losar style

During the past decades, it was a tradition for Chinese to spend a lot on food to enjoy the New Year holiday, compensating their hard work in the past year. Thus, the unnecessary consumption increased.

However, in 2013 people in Tibet began to consider an economical way to celebrate the Water Snake Losar and Spring Festival.

In Lhasa, the restaurants are still popular during the Water Snake Losar and Spring Festival, mainly for the festival family feast. Many families now initiatively ask for packing up for the left food.

Therefore, the restaurants respond positively to the "clear your plate", mass customizing the safe and convenient disposable tableware. Therefore, it can ensure people's rational consumption and reduce waste.

Lozang, a Local citizen in Lhasa celebrate the Water Snake Losar in a thrifty way by avoiding acquiring new tableware, which would cost him 600 yuan. The supermarket made a new policy that if the consumer didn't use up all the wines and drinks, then they can return the things with the original price. According to the policy, Lozang saves a large sum of money.

In addition, anther new way for passing on new year wishes has been prevailed among the Tibetans. As Dekyi, a student in Tibet University, said, many young Tibetans use the most popular ways, such as micro letter, micro blog and Tencent QQ to pay a new year call. Communicating via Internet is interactive, economical and environment-friendly.

Family photo [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Heating projects warm people's heart

Walking into Wangdu's house, the old man will always ask his guests a question: "Do you feel the warm temperature in my house?" Wangdu lives in the Dangba Community of Lhasa, which is one of the first communities equipped with heating system.

Wangdu told the reporter that he felt so happy and lucky that in 2012 his parlor and bedroom were installed all together 32 heating radiators free of charge.

In April 2012 Tibet started the important heating system project. By the end of 2012, 40 percent of Lhasa had been equipped with heating system, thus many Lhasa citizens said farewell to the traditional heating way, such as burning cow dung and wood. Now, they use the natural gas, which is safe, reliable and convenient.

During the Spring Festival and Water Snake Losar, several services by the government are provided in the whole region, such as cultural service, science technology service, law service and medical service. Many folk institutions and temples also organize rich and colorful celebrations.

Tibetans feel much warmer than before, not only because of the heating system under building, but also the good policies.

The Tibet Museum held a series of new year celebration custom exhibition activities since Feb.10,2013. [Photo/China Tibet Online]

Cultural feast enriches Tibetans'life

On Feb. 10, 2013, the Tibetan Spring Festival and Tibetan New Year TV Gala was held, themed with "Goodbye to 2012 and welcome 2013". Stars from the inside and outside of the region of Tibet offer the audience a marvelous party with various kinds of programs.

In the same day, the special performance to convey new year greetings was held in Dzongyab Lukhang Park of Lhasa. During the one hour splendid performance, there are singings, dances and short comedian sketches, which attract lots of local citizens.

Moreover, several movies make a big hit in Tibet during the festival. Odyssey (The Anti-Devil Part of Pilgrimage to the West produced by Stephen Chow) is one of the big releases of the new year films. Watching films in the theatre has gradually become a new way for the Tibetans in celebrating the new year festival.

From Feb.10,2013, the Tibet Museum held a series of new year celebration custom exhibition activities. The show lasts for 9 days. Many local citizens and tourists are attracted by its interesting interactive games and picture shows.

The 64-year-old Sangye Chodron and her husband came to Lhasa from Nyingchi. With her daughter and grandsons, they visit the Tibet's Past and Present Photo Exhibition in the Tibet Museum.

She said: "Great changes have taken place in Tibet for over half a century. I feel happy and satisfied with today's life, just like every day is a new year's day."